Businessmen have urged the Maoists to immediately stop attacks and intimidation against them. They have also asked the government to create conducive environment for the private sector to operate.

Industrialist Rajendra Khetan leading a rally organised by the businessmen community in the capital on Tuesday (Mar 20 06) against the Maoist intimidation of businessmen. nepalnews.com/ANA

Addressing the mass meeting organised to protest the Maoist excesses against the businessmen, they warned that they would be compelled to give continuity to the ongoing general strike if concerned side failed to heed their demands.

They said they were compelled to shut down their businesses and take to the streets as the coalition government of the seven political parties failed to create conducive environment for operation of businesses and the Maoists continued intimidation of businessmen even after the party joined the parliamentary politics.

President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), Chandi Raj Dhakal, president of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Binod Chaudhari, president of Nepal Chambers of Commerce, Surendra Bir Malakar, president of Private and Boarding School Association of Nepal (PABSON), Umesh Shrestha, president of Hotel Association of Nepal, Praksah Shrestha, and president of National PABSON, Karna Bahadur Shahi and other heads of business organisations addressed the mass meeting organised at Basantapur, Kathmandu.

All the speakers asked the Maoists to immediately stop intimidation and extortion.

“The Maoists, who are reiterating that they want to build New Nepal, have been continuing attack on the business sector,” they added.

They also rapped the passivity of the government in resolving the problems and for failing to provide security to them.

They warned of stronger protests if the government failed to immediately address their demands. 71 organisations have supported the indefinite general strike called to protest the attacks against the businessmen.

The businessmen also criticised the Prime Minister for not meeting them when they reached his official residence to submit a memorandum on Monday.

Businessmen started protest from Monday demanding security to their business after Maoists abducted and thrashed Harilal Shrestha, owner of Hotel Woodlands at Durbar Marg, for not providing Rs 2 million donation on Sunday night.

Various organisations have also expressed solidarity to the protest programme launched by the businessmen.

The rally organised by businessmen after the mass meeting passed through various parts of the capital before converging into a sit-in at Maitighar Mandala.

However, the Maoists have denied hand in the Sunday night incident. Talking to Nepalnews on Monday, senior Maoist leader Dev Gurung claimed that manhandling of the hotelier had nothing to do with their party.

He said businessmen were only targeting the Maoist party though the party did not have any involvement in the incident and added that they would take action if any of their cadres was involved in the incident.